South End coffee shop serves Yemeni coffee beside luxury and exotic cars
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Caffeena Coffeehouse is a new Yemeni coffee shop connected to an Auto Lab that features exotic and luxury cars in South End. Photo: Courtesy of Ty Chapel
You can sip Yemeni-style coffee with a view of luxury and exotic cars at the newly opened Caffeena Coffeehouse in South End.
Why it matters: Middle Eastern coffee shops are sprouting up across the city, bringing traditional flavor and cultural experiences found in other parts of the world to Charlotte.
The big picture: Yemeni coffeehouses are also rapidly growing across the U.S.
- The number of cafes operated by six major chains serving Yemeni-style drinks grew 50% last year to 136, AP reports.
Zoom in: Co-owners Hamza Yaseen and Saif Salim opened Michigan-based Caffeena's first North Carolina location in South End. Yaseen, who was born in Jordan and grew up in Charlotte, says he was inspired by car-meets-coffee concepts he's seen in Dubai, Germany and Jordan.
What to expect: Caffeena seats about 25–30 people, plus another 8–10 in a reception area overlooking the cars in their Auto Lab.
- The menu features Yemeni coffee imported directly from farms in Yemen, including lattes. You'll also find teas, matcha, refreshers and smoothies.
- Pastries include croissants, éclairs, cakes and honeycomb bread with cream cheese, with selections rotating every couple of weeks.
The vibe: On the Auto Lab side, you'll typically find four to five luxury and exotic cars on display. The lineup changes daily as rentals go out and client cars come in, but you'll usually see more of the fleet during events and car meets.
- There are also two racing simulator seats with force feedback for a more realistic driving experience.
- The team plans to host car meets every two months featuring everything from vintage to modern cars.
What's next: Caffeena is currently in its soft-opening phase at 3101 Griffith St. A grand opening and Formula One watch party is set for Sunday, Aug. 23, from 9am–3pm.
- The coffee shop is open 8am-10pm daily and their Auto Lab is open from 9am-6pm.
- A second Caffeena, without the car component, is expected to open in Dilworth later this fall at 700 E. Morehead St..
Go deeper: 6 must-try Middle Eastern cafés in Charlotte
